Head of Operations - Wetland Reserves

WWT; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An environmental conservation organization in the UK seeks a Head of Operations Wetland Reserves. This role focuses on supporting Site Managers in enhancing wetland health and securing funding. The ideal candidate will have senior operational experience in conservation. Responsibilities include team leadership, financial analysis, and strategic planning. The position offers a flexible hybrid working model and multiple employee benefits, including generous leave and pension contributions.

Benefits

33 days annual leave

Free entry to wetland centres

Contributory pension scheme

Life Assurance

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in conservation or nature-based settings.
• Strong skills in leading multi-site operations with varying income streams.
• Effective communication skills to inspire and manage teams.

Responsibilities

• Support Site Managers in improving wetland habitats.
• Maximize income development and funding opportunities.
• Lead and mentor diverse multi-disciplinary teams.

Skills

Senior level operational experience

Business planning and financial analysis

Recruitment and performance management

Leadership and coaching skills

Networking and influencing

Managing triple-bottom-line objectives

Job description

Closing Date: 10/02/2026
£59,612.00 per annum
Full time (part time considered)
Permanent
Location: Flexible

About The Role

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will work alongside two Heads of Operations for our Wetland Discovery sites, to support our Wetland Reserves sites in achieving our ambitions. You will lead Site Managers at Caerlaverock, Steart and Welney, as well as potential future reserves, supporting them in improving the health and diversity of our wetland habitats whilst ensuring they maximise opportunities for income development and funding to assure financial stability for years to come.

This is a permanent contract, working full time, Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours a week. Part-time work will be considered.

For this role we can offer the opportunity for hybrid working. It is expected the role will need you to be present at each of your sites on a regular basis, at least once per month.

About You

You will be passionate about nature and conservation with a good understanding of the challenges and pressures faced by site operations which rely on funding through stewardship grants, donations and restricted funding.

To join as our Head of Operations Wetland Reserves you’ll bring:

• Senior level operational experience in a comparable organisation working directly with conservation or nature-based experiences where income streams are not driven by visitation but by external funding and/or donations.
• Evidence of strong skills in leading and supporting business planning, financial analysis, budget development and management, across multiple sites with varying income streams and asset portfolios.
• The ability to recruit, performance manage and motivate diverse multi-disciplinary teams.
• Demonstrable leadership skills, able to coach and mentor site leaders and their teams, communicating clarity of direction and inspiring teams to work towards common goals.
• Skills in networking and influencing internally and externally at a senior level, developing partnerships with like-minded organisations for the benefit of WWT and our charitable aims.
• Demonstrable ability to manage the complexity of demands posed by triple-bottom-line objectives across our conservation targets, visitor engagement and financial targets.

We reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a sufficient number of applications from candidates who meet the required skills and experience. We therefore encourage early applications.

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you’ll love working at WWT

• Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
• 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
• Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
• Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme

WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.

Apply here